Slopes Less Traveled

Slopes Less Traveled

Since America's first ski tow opened in a farmer's pasture near Woodstock in January 1934, skiers have flocked to Vermont in winter. The Green Mountains are dotted with 18 ski resorts, from Mt. Snow in the south to Jay Peak near the Canadian border. They range in size from Killington, in central Vermont, with its 200 trails and 31 lifts, to the Bear Creek Mountain Club, also in central Vermont, with only 15 trails and one chairlift. On weekends and holidays, the bigger resorts -- Mt. Snow, Stratton, and Okemo in southern Vermont; Killington, Sugarbush, and Mad River Glen in the central part of the state; and Stowe, Smuggler's Notch, and Jay Peak in the north -- attract most of the skiers and snowboarders. To escape the crowds, try these smaller, less well-known ski resorts.

Southern Vermont:

Near Stratton, Bromley (Rte. 11, Peru. 802/824-5522 or 800/865-4786. www.bromley.com) is a favorite with families. The 43 trails are evenly divided between beginner, intermediate, and expert. The resort runs a child care center, for kids ages 6 weeks to 4 years, and hosts children's programs, for ages 3-12. An added bonus: the trails face south, making for glorious spring skiing and warm winter days.

Central Vermont:

Once only a faint blip on skiers' radar, Ascutney (Rte. 44, Brownsville. 802/484-7711 or 800/243-0011. www.ascutney.com) has remade itself into a bona-fide destination. The 56 trails on an 1,800 foot vertical drop are served by six lifts, including a high-speed quad chairlift accessing double-diamond terrain near the summit. Day care is available for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years, with learn-to-ski programs for toddlers and up. On Saturday from 5-8 PM, children ages 4-12 can join Cheddar's Happy Hour and movie night. When weekend hordes hit Killington, the locals head to Pico (Rte. 4, Killington. 802/422-6200 or 866/667-7426. www.picomountain.com). One of Killington's "seven peaks," Pico is physically separated from its parent resort. The 50 trails range from elevator-shaft steeps to challenging intermediate trails near the summit, with easier terrain near the bottom of the mountain's 2,000 foot vertical. The learning slope is separated from the upper mountain, so hotshots won't bomb through it. The lower express quad can get crowded, but the upper one rarely has a line.

Northern Vermont:

About an hour's drive from Montpelier is Burke Mountain (Mountain Rd., East Burke. 802/626-3322. www.skiburke.com). Racers stick to the Training Slope, served by its own poma lift. The other 44 trails and glades are a quiet playground. Near Burlington, Bolton Valley Resort (4302 Bolton Valley Access Rd., Bolton. 802/434-3444 or 877/926-5866. www.boltonvalley.com) is a family favorite. In addition to 61 downhill ski trails (over half rated for intermediates), Bolton has night skiing Wednesday-Saturday, 100 km (62 mi) of cross-country and snowshoe trails, and a sports center.